Above / A drive-through food drive is set for Sun., Sept. 24, in the parking lot at Naperville Bank and Trust, Washington Street at Benton Avenue.
Loaves & Fishes Community Services is collaborating with the Downtown Naperville Alliance to take action on hunger during Hunger Action Month. Several downtown vendors are hosting food drives in their stores, collecting dry goods from customers.
Additionally, from 9AM to 11AM on Sun., Sept. 24, a Drive Through Food Drive is scheduled in the Naperville Bank and Trust parking lot, where the public can stop by and donate healthy, nonperishable, nonexpired items.
Loaves & Fishes has seen the need for food for struggling families increase dramatically, but the food supply has not come close to keeping up. The organization now serves over 8,000 people a week compared to 3,000 a week at the beginning of last year, but unfortunately, food donations have decreased this year. This is due largely to the high cost of groceries. Struggling families are not able to keep healthy food on the table because it is so expensive. And more expensive food is the same reason that food donations have decreased.
“We sincerely thank the Downtown Naperville Alliance and the many community members stepping up to help. By working together, we can create a community where every individual has access to healthy food,” said Mike Havala, CEO of Loaves & Fishes.
The community can participate by stopping by the Drive Through Food Drive from 9AM to 11AM on Sun., Sept. 24, at the Naperville Bank & Trust located at 5 S. Washington Street.
If unable to make it on Sunday, food can be dropped off at participating stores in Downtown Naperville, or donations can be made to the Loaves & Fishes Virtual Food Drive at loaves-fishes.org.
For more information on Hunger Action Month and how to become involved, visit loaves-fishes.org.
Loaves and Fishes Community Services
Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a registered 501(3) organization serving more than 8,000 people a week by providing healthy food and impactful programs for self-sufficiency. It is one of the largest food pantries in the state of Illinois. Clients receive a healthy variety of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, and eggs.
The Loaves & Fishes CARES programs help clients become self-sufficient through opportunities such as emergency assistance for rent or utilities, assistance with public benefits, car donations, tax preparation, job readiness, budget, and credit classes, and Moving Up, a 16-session intensive to help clients overcome barriers preventing them from becoming self-sufficient. Loaves & Fishes serves DuPage, Will, Kane, and Kendall counties.
Loaves & Fishes Grocery Market and administrative offices are located in Naperville, and their Food Distribution Hub is located in Aurora. For more information, visit loaves-fishes.org.
